Wrench.



O. W WERNTZ.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1913.

1, 1 1 5,755. Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

( m/neuter O W. W E RNTZ Mmm THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTOLITHO., WASHINGTON, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT oriuon OLIVER W. WERNTZ, OF WARSAW, INDIANA.

WRENCH.

applied position in gripping engagement therewith. j

The invention has for another and more specific object the provision of a wrench including a handle having a aw formed on one end, a complementary wrench jaw movable with relation. to the first jaw, linkscon necting said jaws, and means for forcing the movable jaw into efi'ective gripping engagement with a pipe when the wrench 1S turned thereon.

The invention has for a further object to provide a wrench of the above character which is extremely simple in its construction, strong and durable and serviceable in practical use and may be produced at small manufacturing cost.

With the above and other objects in view as will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a wrench constructed in'accordance with the present invention and showing the same applied to a pipe. Fig. 2 is a similar View of one end of the wrench showing the positions of the jaws when released from gripping engagement with the pipe; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates the main stationary jaw which is integrally formed upon one end of a suitable handle 6. One side of this handle is longitudinally recessed or cut away as shown at 7 for a purpose to be later re- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 5, 1913.

pipe.

socket 15.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

Serial No. 799,366.

ferred to. The inner edge of the jaw 5 is provided with an obliquely inclined series .of teeth or serrations 8 adapted for gripinclined series of teeth or serrations 11,.

which'are opposed to the teeth 8 uponthe stationary jaw 5. A pair oflinks 12 are disposed upon opposite sides of the wrench jaws and pivotally connected thereto as indicated at 13. i

The inner end of the shank 10 terminates in an. angularly disposed portion 1a which is engaged in a recessor socket 15 provided in an enlargement 16 formed upon the wrench handle. The walls of this socket are also inclined substantially in parallel relation to'the angular end 14 of the shank.

As clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, when the wrench is applied to a pipe, the teeth of the jaws 5 and 9 are arranged upon opposite sides of the pipe. Upon turning the wrench upon the pipe, the shank 10 moves longitudinally with relation to the handle 6 and as the angular end 14 of said shank rides upwardly upon the inclined wall of the socket 15, the movable jaw 9 is tilted and forced inwardly upon the periphery of the pipe so that the teeth thereof will retain a secure gripping engagement upon the same. It will be obvious that the greater pressure which is applied to the movable jaw will serve in gripping the teeth thereof more firmly upon the The links 12 are preferably curved in the manner illustrated, so that said links tend to draw the movable jaw toward the stationary jaw,and thereby also lessen the strain on the links and the rivets 13. It will be obvious from the above statement that only a very slight turn of the wrench upon the pipe is necessary to securely grip the jaws thereon. When it is desired to release the'wrench fromthe pipe, the handle is simply moved for a short distance in the reverse direction so that an inward pres sure is exerted upon the movable jaw 9 and the links 12 then act to spread or separate the jaws and disengage the teeth thereof from the periphery of the pipe as clearly shown in shank 10 moving backwardly in the Fig. 2, the angular end 1a of the From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction and manner of use of my invention will be clearly and fully understood. Owing to the very few parts employed in the construction of the wrench, it will be obvious that the same is extremely strong and durable in practical use and may be produced at small manufacturing cost. The wrench is capable of easy and quick application to the pipe and may be conveniently employed in corners or other places where the ordinary pipe wrench cannot be used.

lVhile I have shown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the several parts of my invention, it will be understood that the same is susceptible of considerable modification and I therefore reserve the right to resort to all such legiti mate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention,

as claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

The herein'described wrench comprising in combination the following elements to Wit: a handle having a stationary jaw movable jaw cooperating withone of the obliquely inclined walls of said housing when the wrench is turned around a pipe to force said movable shank laterally from the handle and tilt the movable jaw between the links, whereby the same is moved to ward the stationary aw and into gripping engagement with the pipe.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

OLIVER WV. VVERNTZ. lVitnesses W'. W. Lewis, WM. SCHULTZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

